Pseliastis (genus)
1 Heliozelidae, Adeloidea at Tennent, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Pseliastis (genus) | ibaird | 22 Jul 2026 | |
| Pseliastis (genus) | WendyEM | 21 Jul 2026 | |
| Heliozela (genus) | WendyEM | 11 Jul 2026 | |
| Gracillariidae (family) | donhe | 20 Oct 2022 | |
| Unverified | Harrisi | 20 Oct 2022 |
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13 comments
20 Oct 2022
One as far as I (eye) could see Ian. Very small, and saw it (one) fly in to where pic was taken....
21 Oct 2022
i don't see many similarities with the Gracillidae family moths I can see on LBH.
21 Oct 2022
Sorry pics arent better, I dropped and broke my flash on way up to cliff so shot only with available light...
21 Oct 2022
The Phyllocnistis (Gracillariidae) have an expanded forewing marginal area with an expanded marginal fringe like this specimen, although the wing patterns on none of published pictures of species in this genus match this specimen.
15 Jul 2026
No, nor did I but ...I suspect it is an understudied and reported group. Only 421 sightings for the group on iNat. Above moth is quite like
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/1516432-Pseliastis-spectropa
not that species but compare the wing and head (domed, smooth, bulbous) shape and the nature of the markings.
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/1516432-Pseliastis-spectropa
not that species but compare the wing and head (domed, smooth, bulbous) shape and the nature of the markings.
16 Jul 2026
Could its larval host be the ovary of Leionema flowers (Rutaceae). See also brood site pollination in Heliozelidae.
21 Jul 2026
I contacted Axel K about this record he says "The Heliozelidae looks like a Pseliastis, most likely a new species. Do you know the plant it is sitting on and the precise location?" I will contact him about the host plant and loacation.
21 Jul 2026
Him deduces that the host plant is (Leionema lamprophyllum subsp. obovatum) and the precise location is "walk up to Booroomba rocks lookout and go approx 50m to the right......
22 Jul 2026
Thanks Harrisi. The 'him' I was referring to was Axel Kallies, who I had mentioned in my message. I sent Axel the info from your sighting (which he had missed) but I will forward the more detailed description of the location. Thanks for that. This is a group he (Axel) is interested in
"Over the last 10 years, he has been working with a group of other Australian entomologists including Doug Hilton, Andy Young, Liz Milla and others on Australia’s monotrysian moths, including Heliozelidae, Adelidae, Opostegidae and Hepialidae, and additional evolutionary primitive families of moths." (MABA website)
"Over the last 10 years, he has been working with a group of other Australian entomologists including Doug Hilton, Andy Young, Liz Milla and others on Australia’s monotrysian moths, including Heliozelidae, Adelidae, Opostegidae and Hepialidae, and additional evolutionary primitive families of moths." (MABA website)
22 Jul 2026
Again, many thanks to WendyEM, Axel Kallies. RogerF and Harrisi. Likely an undesctibed species.
Location information
- Maps Namadgi National Park
- Places Tennent, ACT
Sighting information
- At least 1 Abundance
- Harrisi Recorded by
- Leionema lamprophyllum subsp. obovatum Associated plant
- Less than 5mm Animal size
Collections
- Harrisi NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Other moths Moths (Lepidoptera) Insects Pseliastis (genus) Featured
Species information
- Pseliastis (genus) Scientific name
- Heliozelidae, Adeloidea Common name
- Sensitive
- Rare or uncommon native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
4 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Additional attributes
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description